First OS update for Windows Phone 8 codenamed ‘Portico’

n. An elaborate or at least covered porch area adjacent to a main entrance, generally in a classical building. The portico functions as a means to protect visitors from the elements as well as emphasizing the taste and wealth of the owner.

Even though Windows Phone 8 has just launched across the world, information on the first OS update was revealed just a week ago. The OS update is rumored to be announced this February during the annual Mobile World Congress in Barcelona and it will reportedly consist of various small patches, fixes and additions to Windows Phone 8.

Windows Phone Central has now learned from a known and trusted source that this update is being referred to not as Apollo+ but ‘Portico’.

The label is evidently keeping in the Microsoft tradition of Windows Phone OS codenames ending in -o, including NoDo (7.x), Mango (7.5), Tango (7.5 Refresh) and Apollo (8.0). We’re unsure if the name was chosen for its meaning, although the concept of a portico being an extension on a house certainly fits the idea behind the update, which is thought to augment the capabilities of Windows Phone 8.

Unfortunately not too much is currently known about Portico, potentially due to the flux of changing priorities with the development team as well as secrecy. The Verge recently stated that the update would include VPN support as well as enhancing Wi-Fi so that it can remain connected when the phone is in standby.

Without knowing anything about what the update entails, this information is borderline useless. "An update is coming, and we are pretty sure the timeline is accurate!" That's cool. I think we all knew we would eventually get an update. The question is WHAT are we getting?

I follow a few sites, but in my opinion WPCentral and Mobile Nations stand out above the rest. I'm not sure exactly why that is, Mobile Nations is perhaps more professional, and I think the interaction between the different mobile nations (communities) fosters a more objective and a more helpful perspective from the staff/writers.

Well sometimes the info is useless unless it is directly from the source...microsoft. Enough could be argued about the windows phone 7.8 update doing this and that and date here and there, but only microsoft can announce the offical word, opposite to all rumors. So speculation even from a "reliable" source is still speculation. I could say the next windows phone update will make my toast for me and I am sure some people will believe it. So yes sometimes keeping useless information like this...complete utter speculation should be kept to yourself.

Mr. Daniel, don't let some trolls let you down. We really appreciate your articles. Very valuable information ALWAYS.
Please, keep posting what you know/think/believe/guess/etc/
we need to be informed in order to buy stuff. thanks

I see both sides of this. Yes everyone wants as much info as they can get but also saying an update is coming is like saying another android phone is coming... You can literally bet the farm on it. I dont get why they just don't release the details. It won't hurt anything.

Thanks. Someone actually gets it. Apparently I am a troll though because I don't think the writers fart puppy dogs and rainbows. Some people here seriously need to relax. Mu statement was pretty mild. Can't say the same for most of the responses.

WHAT is your question. I think most of us, knowing "what" isn't known yet, are still open to hearing it has a name (so, while still a rumor, it's a rumor with a little more legs), has "a few surprises", and is expected to be announced in February (more info than "eventually").
Sure, there are a lot of useless article, blog, or commentary pieces on the internet, but calling this one useless is a little harsh.

@reef,
Getting the update? Yes, we knew we would eventually receive an update. Sometime in Q1 2013? Yes, that was speculated a bit as well. Oh, it sounds like it will be announced during the Mobile World Congress in February. It's going to be called Portico. To get a confirmation on anything these days that isn't sandwiched with a significant amount of FUD is impressive. WPC didn't try to embelish the facts or sensationalize the story to the point that we thought it was going to be the update to end all updates.
If you feel that you are a more capable reporter, by all means submit your resume along with references and a portfolio of your work to the editors. Otherwise, promptly return your commentary back up the orifice from whence it came.
Sincerely,
Richard M. Nixon

Just when you thought the internets was boring you see this comment lol! I found this article intriguing i.e. is the codename a clue to what is coming? "Elaborate Entrance" = Enhanced security features, lock screen updates, new way to activate features a'la Siri??? Oh boy, can't wait.

Reefer's comment is why I could never sign up as a writer here and can never step up as a moderator or site admin. I'd ban so many people for being MORONS, there would only be a handful of people left on the site... not a good business model, lol.

I only read Ed Bott and Mary Jo Foley... I've been reading, trusting, and agreeing with them for over 20 years. Pretty much everyone else at ZDNet can suck it... I'm sure there may be other exceptions, but I don't know them.

Agree. I use to follow Tom Warren at WinRumors when I was hungry for the latest rumors and tidbits. But I grew tired of baseless rumors and missleading/exageratted headlines. I can only assume he hasn't changed much after moving to the Verge. Thats why I like this site and its "Rumometer". The authors here take responsibility for the articles and headlines they post.

Daniel,
Any word on how these updates will work? There was mention of a Push/Pull system. Where you could pull it from Microsoft or wait for the carriers to push it out. Is that still going to be in place? Could we expect a HTC 8X on T-Mobile to be able to update the same day as an AT&T HTC 8X?
Also any word on the Dec. patch? Any eta?

There are definitely some kinks that need to be worked out, so It's good to see they are moving forward on updates. Have you heard what the problem was with the preliminary\test OTA update? Btw, display and touch was updated today.

defintely like the timing of the release as it shows that MS might be serious about running at a faster pace to catchup with android / iOS
...now what about that enthusiast program that Terry Meyerson talked about in June 2012

Important thing to remember. With Windows Phone, you WILL get an update. On Android you will never know for sure if you are going to get an update. (Fragmentation it is called, even if its not a great word)
iOS is a little better than Android, and probably on a par with WP.

Except that all the alternatives rely on a data connection. It might be nothing to you but if you have a limited data plan or cannot connect using WiFi, you're stuck. At least with FM it is free and pretty much covers everywhere. Sadly WP8 has now lost that hardware choice.

So just to confirm with WP8 we will get regular ota updates for small fixes like the one coming this month as well as the bigger incremental updates too? I'm hoping for much more consistent updates than WP7 ever got.

It would be nice. But I highly doubt it. Theyve had the ability to update the Xbox whenever they wanted. Yet always wait until specified times of year. I find it annoying. Push things out as you can. Dont wait.
So Ill believe it when I see it but Im not counting on it.

Any updates are always welcome. HOWEVER, what is the need to wait and have to "announce" it here or there at some stupid conference? Just work on it, and push it out when its ready. Better yet, work on updates constantly, and push them out as frequently as you can.

The way I see it, it's likely more of a deadline deal. The team is given X amount of time, and all the time between v1 and release is alpha and beta testing. The longer the wait, the more tweaks, bonuses, and the smoother the ride.

I just hope Screen Orientation Lock is part of update, this is my only true complaint about Windows Phone OS. Yes I use my phone sideways while in bed, its more comfortable for me to hold it in portrait mode. Just in case I get questions as to "why screen lock is even needed?". Everyone has different needs, this should be a simple add on.

Just a hypothesis,but what if the code name had something to do with the lock screen and making it truly live. Since the lock screen could be considered the main entrance to our "home" screen. There was a article a while back that showed USA Today and Espn on the lock screen with live updates. This is what I want.

From a platform health perspective i'd like to see all the bugs fixed and a couple business security enhancements added. Its going to be really important going forward to keep BlackBerry from gaining traction in the enterprise.

Three things I would love to see...
- Bluetooth fix - I would love to see the issue where my bluetooth only connects to my car 50% of the time fixed in this update.
- Xbox Music Usage Rights - I would also like to see a fix with Xbox Music for the issue where it claims that I do not have the rights to listen to songs that I either own outright or have downloaded through Xbox Music (though it seems to happen on my Windows 8 PC too, so it probably is not something that would be fixed through a phone update).
- Allow Wi-fi to stay connected at all times - My wife's phone does not have unlimited data like mine and her data has been connecting and transmitting data over cellular at times when we are asleep and when she is at home where she should be covered by wifi. Her data usage has increased, without her doing anything different than she used to on her Lumia 900, to the point that we had to pay overages (waived by AT&T though).

The Bluetooth on my phone only connects to my Jeep's MyGig Bluetooth system about 50% of the time. It will always reconnect if I turn Bluetooth off and then back on again, but that is not something that should need to be done.

Also, as AT&T confirmed through numerous support conversations with me and through combing through the data charges in my wife's bill, the data was transmitting a great deal of data over cellular at times that her phone is plugged in, namely every single night of the two weeks that she has had it. Her phone transmits between 2MB and 25MB every single night of the 2 weeks that we have had it over cellular data, even though it is plugged in. AT&T has credited us for the overages and has scheduled calls to check back with us every two weeks through our next two billing cycles to make sure that the data consumption issue gets itself under control. They had no idea what the problem would be, but they are guaranteeing us that we will not be charged for data overages in the meantime, until they get this figured out. There is certainly a problem if AT&T is willing to go to those lengths for us.

If it is anong the lines of NoDo, sounds like there could be changes to the way CDMA2000 is coded (more likely to bring more US carriers into the WP8 world by using 512bit encryption which is a requirement by most CDMA carriers, and not Just Sprint and Verizon). SVDO support comes along the higher encryption.

I hope they allow apps to turn off the capacitive button lights! It's *really* annoying trying to read a book at night. Even with brightness set to low or auto-low, the Lumia 920's button lights are painfully bright when reading text in a dark room.

I know this has already been said, but I'm grateful for this kind of news. As I'm currently on Android, but looking to move to WP8 as soon as I can actually get my ordered Lumia 920 delivered, updates are important. I wish the updates that were promised on Android had been delivered, but despite Google developing, they never trickle down to even the more "premium" phones. My HTC Inspire 4g is barely 1.5 years old, and I'm still on the same OS as when I bought it.
Thank you WPCentral for this info, and thank you MS for keeping updates coming to make for a better experience!!!
My 2 cents!

There are many Android phones out there. Most never receive updates beyond Gingerbread. Google and their OEMs are smart. If they update the 1 year old phone, OEMs would never make sales on the new phones. Remember, new Android phones show up every 3-6 months. Like Apple, they hardly change. Why waste so much R&D to do anything different. Apple knows that the gullibles will go in droves to buy anything Apple puts out. Just my honest analysis.

"it will reportedly consist of various small patches, fixes and additions to Windo​s Phone 8."
I am the only one that is afraid of the next update being 'small' 'patches' and 'fixes'?
I think looking at ALL the requests that are on the windowsphone8 website amount to ALOT. LIke, their next update better be BIG!!!
I might have said it before: Go Big or Go Home!
We'll see... :-)

I'd rather see Direct Access support rather than VPN support. We are trying to switch from BlackBerry, whcih already has a VPN-like feature with BES. Our users can browse the internal network with their devices. But with Windows Phone, we would have to expose our Corporate Applications which is not something we want to do.

Can we get a battery boost like the L800 update before that somehow managed to increase battery life up to 200%. The Battery Life app says I have 15 hours at 70% and everybody knows that's not the case. at 50% it said 7 hours which is more realistic but it's draining just a tad too~~~ fast.

I hope in March 2013 when WP8.1 "Portico" update come's it is = to Android v4.2 ..? Because in march 2013 Android 5.0 "Key Lime Pie" is coming and Windows Phone 8 will fall if there not = to Android 4.2 is now over a month old now....MS work harder please keep up with software and update every 6 months please...v8.0 to v8.1 to v8.5 to v8.9 to "64-bit v9.0" :)